Reuters is reporting union sources as saying last Wednesday that "Total plans to shut a lubricant making unit at its Gonfreville refinery in northern France to focus on higher-quality automotive base oils".

The closure of the Group I base oil unit will affect some 50 jobs, but employees will be transferred to other units on the site, where 1,700 employees work in total, a CFDT union official said.

Tighter environmental regulations in Europe has meant Group II and Group III base oils, which produce lubricants with lower emissions, have taken over most of the non-industrial market share. Total currently produces 800 bpd of Group III at Gonfreville that represents roughly 8 percent of the plant's total 10,400 bpd base oil capacity.

Total's project will be carried out by autumn 2015, the CFDT union official said. Base oil production will fall to 800 tonnes per day from 1,500 tonnes per day, a CGT union official said.

Group I base oil units have been closing globally, and Europe is at the most risk because of its higher production costs, smaller and older refineries.